Welcome to Home and Tile Style, a weekly column that focuses on home remodel and design projects, tile treatments and more. For most people, their home is their biggest asset and investment. But more importantly, a home is a haven for friends and family to gather and create memories. For this reason, a home should be a natural expression of the people who live inside it. Style and decor should welcome the home’s inhabitants and guests, making them feel calm, comfortable and at ease. Whether your personal style is luxurious, traditional, farmhouse, contemporary, industrial, modern or retro, materials such as tile, wood, and granite can take center stage easily in your home.
Kitchen Spruce Up
Spring calls to mind soothing colors, cool textures and bright sheens. You can quickly spruce up your home’s interior look with white or cream sheer drapes, an on-trend coat of blush-colored paint, or shapely gold or metal accent lighting. For a total Spring makeover that starts in the kitchen, you may opt for a new kitchen backsplash to brighten up your space.
Polished white ceramic or light gray glass subway tiles instantly give your kitchen a fresh facelift that won’t go out of style, while new tiles textures and shapes bring renewed interest to your family’s favorite gathering spot. In two to three days, depending on the size of your backsplash, you can have a completely new look. If you’re planning on tackling this project yourself, allow some extra time and watch videos for some help. The Home Depot has a thorough instructional video on YouTube about how to install a backsplash yourself.
Measure Twice
All big-box home stores have dozens of tiles on display so you can get a feel for what you like. Tile-specific distributors and boutiques provide personalized design and service and often can be comparable to home store prices. There are several excellent tile showrooms in the Charlotte area, and they are worth a visit if you’re planning a new tile project. If you’re working with a contractor, they will provide you with measurements for each type of tile you need, including the bullnose or edge. Take the measurements to the tile store with you and make sure to add 10% overage, just incase some tiles break or crack during installation.
If you have a question or a story about a home improvement project, email us at MrTileNC@gmail.com. We regret we cannot answer questions personally, but we will include questions and answers in future columns.
